The Big 5: Questions Every Mom Asks, Answered by an OBGYN

Welcome to our new mini-series!

The Big 5: Questions Every Mom Asks, Answered by an OBGYN and one of our very own Momseze medical directors, Dr. Julie Schurr. Stay tuned for questions 2-5, available only on our blog!

As an Obstetrician/ Gynecologist for over 25 years, I think I’ve pretty much seen and heard it all when it comes to the challenges of becoming a new parent. For new Moms, especially first-time new Moms, I find a few basic valid concerns crop up consistently. Each question could be answered in great detail, backed up by data and with lots of references but let’s save all that for later, shall we?

1. What’s happens to my body now that I’m no longer pregnant? When should I worry there’s a problem?

Your body is amazing. Every organ system geared up for your pregnancy, and now that you’ve delivered, things begin to revert back to the way they were- some slowly and others rapidly. Common immediate concerns postpartum focus on a few things: bleeding too heavily, signs of infection or worsening pain or conditions linked to high blood pressure. Saturating a maxi pad hourly for two or more hours is never normal and neither is the continual passage of clots larger than a baseball (or lemon, depending on your point of reference). As a rule, an oral temperature greater than 100.4F suggests concern and >101F mandates a phone call to your Provider. Common infections sites include the uterus, breast, bladder, incision site or veins in the pelvis. The reappearance of pain at any location (usually the uterus, pelvis, vagina or breast) may indicate a problem requiring an examination.

Remember, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen, seems to provide benefit to the majority of women postpartum. If it’s working for a while and then stops providing you benefit, I encourage patients to call. Lastly, some women may develop problems associated with hypertension (elevated blood pressure) postpartum, even when they didn’t have this issue while they were pregnant, or in labor. Concerning signs such as “the worst headache” of your life, blurred vision, agitation, sudden onset of nausea and vomiting or right upper quadrant abdominal pain warrant immediate attention.

Julie Schurr

OBGYN, Momseze Regional Medical Director

When Dr. Schurr isn't delivering babies or doing surgery, she spends her time in Guatemala developing a Women's Health Clinic for the severely under-served women of that country. She loves kick-boxing and working out in the gym, cooking up a storm with her two grown daughters, and playing with her big Rhodesian Ridgeback pup, Zulu.